BYD has Mercedes-Benz in its sights with new flagship sedan

BYD continues to push into luxury territory with its latest model in China.

Called the BYD Da Han, or Great Han, the new luxury four-door forms part of BYD’s ‘Dynasty series’ in China, with a focus on luxurious equipment, aimed at business buyers who may have previously considered a European luxury sedan.

Key specifications, published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, reveal the Great Han will feature a 102.3kWh battery and, even in its most basic form, a 370kW single electric motor powering the rear axle.

A dual-motor version with 570kW combined will be offered, as will a plug-in hybrid version, with a smaller 54.5kWh battery and a 200kW drive motor.

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Range estimates give the single-motor RWD EV model a 1008km lab-tested CLTC driving range, down to 880km for the dual-motor EV, with 470km of electric-only range for the PHEV.

Those figures would sit closer to about 830km, 720km, and 380km under more real-world relevant WLTP conditions.

As with other current-generation BYD models, the Great Han is compatible with the brand’s Flash Charging network, allowing a five-minute 10 to 70 per cent battery recharge, or nine minutes from 10 to 97 per cent on a compatible charger.

In order to deliver that range, the LFP battery is reported at 725.9kg, according to Car News China, accounting for one third of the car’s total weight.

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In terms of size, the Great Han lines up against full-size luxury sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

At 5256mm long, the Great Han is 76mm longer than the short-wheelbase S-Class, and 44mm shorter than the long-wheelbase version. A BMW i7 is, however, 139mm longer.

The Great Han is the first BYD to enter the upper luxury sedan segment, although it has already pursued the upper end of China’s car market with models like the related Dynasty-series Great Tang SUV, Ocean-series Sealion 08 SUV and Seal 08 sedan, and models from its Denza and Yangwang brands.

As with other BYD models, the Great Han is expected to feature advanced LiDAR-guided driver assistance, including Navigate On Autopilot self-driving on motorways and urban roads.

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The new model’s official reveal is set to take place at the Chengdu motor show in August.

Like the Great Tang, the Great Han is expected to feature a premium quilted leather interior, heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, a built-in fridge and food warmer, multiple screens for vehicle controls and infotainment, and other high-end features.

Export potential for the upmarket new model is slightly less certain.

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While BYD has introduced several recent models in China with a nod to their overseas potential, the push to build Denza as BYD’s luxury arm in markets like the UK and Australia, and that it is yet to offer a model directly sold in China as a BYD, means the Great Han is unlikely for export.

Despite that, the model is still an important piece of the puzzle for BYD.

Its close rival in China, the Maextro S800, outsells key European competitors, and Chinese automakers are looking to move into high-margin luxury models as market demand for cheaper, lower-profit models begins to slow.